Associate's · Health Sciences
Associate of Science in Health Sciences
Build a strong foundation in health science, then step into an entry-level healthcare role or continue straight into a bachelor's degree.
Download the program brochure (PDF)At a glance
What is the online Associate of Science in Health Sciences at APU Global?
This program is a 60-credit, 100% online associate's from APU Global, a WSCUC-accredited nonprofit Christian university. Tuition is $535 per credit and courses run in eight-week sessions with six starts a year. There is no application fee, and up to 90 credits of prior credit transfer in. Next session begins September 8, 2026.
Credits to graduate
60
Per credit
$535
Next start
September 8, 2026
Format
Online
Overview
An associate's built around your life, not against it.
The Associate of Science in Health Sciences program is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to excel in the field of health care. This online health science degree program provides a comprehensive foundation for those seeking a career in health care, health promotion, disease prevention, and service in various settings. With a strong emphasis on professional skills and ethical decision-making, this associate degree in health science prepares graduates to make a meaningful impact in the healthcare industry.
One of the program’s unique strengths is its integration of a Christian worldview, fostering a holistic approach to healthcare. This distinctive perspective ensures that graduates are not only well-prepared academically but also grounded in values that promote compassionate patient care. Furthermore, the AS in Health Sciences serves as an excellent stepping stone for further studies in nursing or advanced degrees in health-related fields. Whether students aspire to become a healthcare professional or want to continue their education, this associate degree program opens doors to a range of exciting opportunities, making it an ideal choice for anyone seeking a versatile and enriching educational experience in the health sciences.
What you'll learn
Outcomes
- Understand fundamental anatomy and physiology
- Apply basic epidemiologic and statistical concepts
- Use medical terminology fluently
- Communicate health information clearly
- Understand U.S. healthcare structure
- Build a path to a bachelor's or allied-health program
Why APU Global
Why earn your degree at APU Global?
A degree from APU Global doesn't just check a credential box. It's shaped by a distinctly Christian mission, taught by scholar-practitioners, and built around the realities of working adult life.
The APU Global difference
At APU Global, your program is built to combine evidence-based practice with a calling to serve, preparing you to advance in nursing, public health, and allied health fields as a compassionate, ethically grounded practitioner.
Christ-centered, God First
Faith isn't bolted on. Coursework engages ethics and vocation directly, and the university's beliefs are published rather than implied, so you know the tradition you're studying in.
Taught by working practitioners
Your instructors are executives, clinicians, educators, and leaders in the field, not graduate assistants. You'll leave with mentors, not just credits.
Regionally accredited, nonprofit
APU Global is WSCUC-accredited and a mission-driven nonprofit. Your degree carries the credibility of a Christian university heritage dating back to 1899, and your tuition funds your education, not shareholders.
One team, start to finish
Three named people stay with you: an enrollment counselor through admission, a success coach through course planning and graduation, and a student accounts specialist for aid and billing. Free 24/7 tutoring and writing support through Tutor.com is included.
Curriculum
Coursework and credit breakdown
This program takes 60 credits to graduate, including 24 credits of major coursework. The worksheet below mirrors the Academic Catalog category by category with verbatim course titles and credit values.
Where your credits land
Transfer-credit worksheet
Core11 courses34 credits
The APU Global Core comprises the General Education requirements and the APU Global Distinctives. General Education requirements may be met by transfer work. Some Core courses also satisfy program requisite or major requirements, so the Core credits counted toward this degree may be fewer than the sum of the courses listed here.
General Education: English Communication
General Education: Arts
General Education: Humanities
General Education: Quantitative Reasoning
General Education: Behavioral Sciences
General Education: Social Sciences
General Education: Physical and Biological Sciences
APU Global Distinctives
Major Requirements9 courses24 credits
Courses you take at APU Global for this program.
Health Sciences (A.S., 26 credits)
Select three of the following:
Electives2 credits
If BIOL 105 is one of the three courses selected above, only one elective credit is required. Elective credits offer students the opportunity to explore an area of interest beyond the required coursework.
The Academic Catalog page for this program is the official source for degree requirements.
Career outcomes
Where Health Sciences graduates go to work
Median salary
$50,250
Range $36,000 – $74,000
10-year job growth
+8%
U.S. BLS, Medical Records Specialists, 2024–34 projection
Top industries
- · Dental & specialty practices
- · Behavioral health clinics
- · Diagnostic labs & imaging
- · Medical billing & coding
Common job titles
- Medical Records Specialist$50,250
- Medical Assistant$44,200
- Patient Services Representative$41,000
- Community Health Worker$51,030
Types of employers hiring for these roles
Salary and job growth figures are national data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (2024). Employer categories reflect where these roles are commonly posted, not a list of APU Global hiring partners. Outcomes vary by region, experience, and program of study.
Faculty
Faculty in this program
Working scholars and practitioners who teach in this field. You'll be taught by them, not graduate assistants.
Joanna Vance Karet
Health Sciences, Public Health
Vanessa Segura
Health Sciences
Enrique Pereira, MD, MHSA, MHI
Health Sciences
Student voices
Why graduates chose this program
Verified quotes from APU Global students and alumni who balanced work, family, and faith while earning their degree online.
“Being at APU Global has given me opportunities for growth and development. Attending this university is the best decision I've ever made, and I feel blessed to be attending a Christian college.”
“It helped me earn my degree while keeping my full-time job and made it very convenient to go to school on a fast-track route. The success coach portion, having that kind of support through your entire program, has such an impact.”
“Who would have thought that at the fun age of 58 I would be going back to school. My success coach, Maria, has been my solid rock through my journey. She listens, gives praise, answers my questions, reviews upcoming assignments with me, and we end with a prayer.”
Quotes shared with permission by APU Global students and alumni. Individual outcomes vary.
Tuition & aid
Tuition, transfer credit, and financial aid
Our 2025–26 tuition rate is $535 per credit. Every figure below is calculated from that rate, so what you see here is what you pay.
- Cost per credit
- $535 (2025–26 undergraduate rate)
- Estimated cost
- About $13,910 for the 26 credits of major coursework, before aid. Your total depends on how much credit transfers in.
- With transfer credit
- Up to 90 credits transfer into a bachelor's. At the maximum, 0 credits remain, about $0 in tuition. Transfer evaluation is free and happens before you enroll.
- Financial aid
- FAFSA-eligible. Federal loans, Pell Grant, Yellow Ribbon, employer billing and deferred payment, and institutional scholarships.
- Military
- Active-duty and veteran service members and their spouses receive a 10% tuition discount, on top of GI Bill® and Yellow Ribbon benefits.
- Fees
- No application fee, no technology fee, no graduation fee.
Run your own numbers with the tuition calculator, see the full tuition and aid breakdown, or review how transfer credit is evaluated.
Admissions
What you'll need
- Completed online application (no fee)
- High school diploma or GED
- Official transcripts from any prior college
Request info
Get the program info packet
An enrollment counselor responds within one business day with a personalized cost estimate, a transfer-credit review, and your fastest path to graduation.
- Next start: September 8, 2026
- Application deadline: August 22, 2026
- No application fee
FAQ
Common questions
Format, cost, transfer credit, and start dates for this program, answered before you apply.
Yes. This program is delivered 100% online with no required campus visits or live class meetings. Coursework is asynchronous with weekly deadlines, and everything you need, including the digital library and 24/7 Tutor.com support, is reachable from the Digital Campus.
Courses run in eight-week sessions with six start dates a year, so you move through the 60 credits required to graduate one session at a time. Full-time students take more courses per session and part-time students take fewer, and approved transfer credit reduces the credits you have left.
Tuition is $535 per credit, about $13,910 for the full 26 credits before aid. There are no technology or graduation fees, employers can be billed directly, and service members, veterans, and their spouses receive a 10% tuition discount.
Yes. APU Global is separately accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), reaffirmed in 2024, and is a nonprofit institution sharing a Christ-centered mission and a heritage dating back to 1899 with Azusa Pacific University. That accreditation is what makes federal financial aid and credit transfer possible.
There is no application fee. No SAT or ACT scores are required; admission is based on a high school diploma or GED and official transcripts from any prior college. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis against each session's deadline rather than a single annual cutoff.
Up to 90 credits. Military training is evaluated from your Joint Services Transcript, and up to 30 credits can come from Prior Learning Assessment. The evaluation is free and results come back before you enroll.
From the blog
Deeper reading on this program
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